Key device



L. G. SlMJlA'N May 22, 1962 KEY DEVICE Filed 001;. 22, 1959 FIG. 1

FIG. 2

/32 ALARM CIRCUIT UTILIZATION vCIRCUIT INVENTOR. LUTHER G. SIMJIAN 3,036,297 Patented May 22, 1962 3,036,297 KEY DEVICE Luther G. Simjian, Greenwich, Conn., assignor to Unlversal Match Corporation, Ferguson, Mo., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 22, 1959, Ser. No. 848,049 3 Claims. (Cl. 340-274) This invention is related in general to a key device and has particular reference to a means employing electrical circuit means for rendering a utilization circuit operative.

More specifically, the invention has reference to a combined structural and electrical means which is used as a key device for rendering a normally locked utilization circuit operative. The invention still further, is related also to my co-pending application for US. Letters Patent, Serial No. 783,348, filed December 29, 1958, entitled Key Device, now US. Patent No. 2,921,152, dated January 12, 1960, which discloses the basic principle of the new and improved key device. The present invention concerns improvements and has particular reference to the operation of an alarm circuit when the key device is used in a surreptitious manner.

In the prior art, various locks have been designed to prevent unauthorized personnel from gaining access to such devices and instrumentalities as cabinets, safes, doors, intelligence transmitters, code machines, depository devices, check signing and issuing apparatus, and many others. Yet it is well known that in spite of concentrated efforts over many decades most present-day locks can be picked by certain persons skilled in the art regardless whether the locks are of complicated design or of the complex permutation type.

The instant invention describes a means wherein not only an utmost precise mechanical fit must be achieved to accomplish unlocking, but wherein, in addition, an electrical circuit simultaneously must be completed before unlocking takes place and this circuit being inherently associated with the mechanical fit. Since the two traits, that is, mechanical fit and electrical circuit, are arranged so as to form an integral part, picking of the lock poses almost an impossible task. Still further, the present improvement incorporates an alarm circuit so that in the event surreptitious means are employed to pick the lock, an alarm circuit is set off in order to provide notification to proper authorities.

One of the objects of this invention therefore is the provision of an improved locking device avoiding one or more of the disadvantages and limitations of prior art devices.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an improved key means for rendering a normally locked utilization circuit operative.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a key means employing structural and electrical means for rendering a utilization circuit operative.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key means which cannot readily be duplicated by unautho=rized personnel, or, if desired, cannot be duplicated at all.

Another and further object of this invention is the provision of a key means which requires perfect match between fragments having a common, irregular severance.

Another and still further object of this invention is to provide key means which require a complete mechanical and electrical match between fragments in order to render a utilization circuit operative.

Still another and further object of this invention is the provision of circuit means connected to the key means whereby the circuit means render a utilization circuit operative when the key means are used in a prescribed manner while rendering an alarm circuit operative when the key means are used in a surreptitious manner.

In one form of its embodiments the invention comprises a plurality of mating fragments, each fragment being provided with electrical conductors The electrical conductors establish an electrical circuit with one another when the fragments are united in the prescribed manner along an irregular severance. One of the fragments is connected via electrical circuit means to a utilization circuit and to an alarm circuit. The utilization circuit becomes activated when the fragments are united in the predetermined manner and the alarm circuit becomes energized when an electrical circuit is established to the conductors of one of the fragments in a surreptitious manner.

Other forms of this invention and still other objects will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a View including a schematic electrical circuit diagram of one of the embodiments of the present invention, and

FIGURE 2 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram of another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring now to the figures and 'FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 11 identifies an enclosure such as a vault door which is adapted to receive the key means 12. The key means comprises essentially structural material, such as a plate of plastic material 13, having affixed thereto electrical conductors 14, 15, 16 and 17. These conductors for security reasons are concealed by being laminated between the base plate 13 and overlying opaque plate 18.

As explained in my co-pending application for US. Letters Patent, this key means originally is a unitary structure, but in order to effect a key, the unitary structure is fractured to provide two separate fragments 21 and 22 which will form a key only when both fragments become reunited along their common, irregular severance. Fragment 22 is mounted stationary within a suitable device, such as a vault door, whereas fragment 21 may be carried by the person having access to the locked device. Conductors 14 and 15 in fragment 22 are connected, moreover, via a battery 24 or other suitable electrical supply to the coil of an electrical relay 25. Conductors 16 and 17 are provided for decoy purposes and in turn are connected via a supply of electrical energy 26 to the coil of another relay 27.

When fragment 21 is united with fragment 22 a circuit is established via conductor 14, battery 24 and relay coil 25 to conductor 15 which is connected to conductor 14 by the looped'conductor portion in fragment 21. This circuit causes switch contact 25A to close and establish an electrical circuit to utilization circuit 31 which, for instance, may contain a motor or solenoid for operating a vault door or similar instrumentality.

In the event, however, that a contact is established between conductors 1'4 and 15 in a surreptitious manner, for instance by pouring salt water or mercury in front thereof, not only will there be established an electrical circuit between conductors 14 and 15, but also a circuit between normally open conductors 16 and 17. This surreptitious action causes switch contact 27A associated with relay coil 27 to assume an open position and contact 27B to change from its normally open condition to a closed position, thus closing a circuit to the alarm circuit 32. It may be noted that while the alarm circuit 32 is activated via closed switch contact 273, open switch 27A renders the utilization circuit 31 inoperative.

The alarm circuit may take the form of a bell signal, of an electrical horn, a warning light at a remote station, activation of a camera or other alarms as are well known to those skilled in the art of intruder and burglar protection.

It will be apparent, therefore, that utilization circuit 31 can be rendered operative only by a perfect match be- URE 2 wherein a'voltage of precisely predetermined value must be used in order to render the utilization circuit operative. Fragments 21 and 22 are produced by frac turing a single plate in the same manner as described hereinbefore. Numeral 50 refers to an electrical multicontact meter-relay such as is manufactured by Assembly Products, Inc., Chesterland 33, Ohio. This meter is an electrical meter with a plurality of arcuate contact bars along the meter scale. When the correct electrical potential 51 is applied to fragment Z1 and if fragments 21 and 22 match along their severance, an electrical circuit a is established from the source of potential 51 via conductor 52, deflection coil 50A of meter 50, and conductor 56 to the source of potential. The correct magnitude of source 51 causes pointer 53 to establish contact with contact bar'54, connected via conductor 55 and in series with source 60 of electrical energy to the utilization circuit 31.

*In this manner, when pointer 53 is deflected to the position of bar 54, the utilization circuit is activated.

In the event that thepotential 51 is either of too high or 'too low a value, pointer53 will deflect in such a manner 1 as to assume a position in contact with contact bars 57. or

58, which bars are connected together via conductor 59. A circuit then is established from source 60 and pointer 53, to contact bar 57 or 58, conductor '59, alarm circuit 32 and back .to source 60. Utilization circuit 31 remains de-energized.

Again, it will be apparent that not only must there be proper matching between the fragments in order to render the utilization circuit operative, but joining the conductors of the fragments in a surreptitious manner by either too high or too low an electrical potential will activate an alarm circuit.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above described examples are but a few of the very basic variations and combinations which may be devised in order to initiate an alarm in the event of surreptitious manipulations. More complicated circuits readily can be devised to provide for keyed signals which are time,

frequency, or amplitude modulated and/ or coded. Other and further significant features and advantages of the invention have been clearly set forth in the application referred to hereinabove. i L

While there have been described and illustrated certain embodiments of the present invention, it will; be apparent to those skilled in the art that various other modifications and changes may be made therein without deviating from the intent and spirit of the present invention, which shall be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A key device of the type described comprising: a plurality of mating fragments, each fragment being provided with electrically conductive means whereby said conductive means establish an electrical circuit when the fragments are united; one of said fragments connected through electrical circuit means to a utilization circuit and to an alarm circuit; said utilization circuit being activated when said fragments are united and an electrical signal of predetermined magnitude is applied to said conductive means, and said alarm circuit being energized when a signal deviating from the predetermined magnitude is applied to the conductive means of said one fragment.

2. A key device of the type described comprising: a plurality of fragments which mate with one another by means of an irregular severance, each fragment being provided with electrically conductive means whereby said conductive means establish an electrical circuit when the fragments are united along said severance; one of said fragments connected through electrical circuit means to a utilization circuit and to an alarm circuitysaid utilization circuit being activated when said fragments are united along said severance and an electrical signal of predetermined magnitude is applied to said conductive means, and said alarm circuit being energized when a signal deviating from the predetermined magnitude is applied to the conductive means of said one fragment.

3. A key device of the type described comprising: a plurality of mating fragments, each fragment being provided with electrically conductive means whereby said conductive means establish an electrical circuit when the fragments are united; one of said fragments connected vthrough electrical circuit means to a utilization circuit and to an alarm circuit; said utilization circuit being activated when said fragments are united and an electrical signal of predetermined characteristic is applied to said conductive means, and said alarm circuit being energized when a signal deviating from the predetermined characteristic is applied to the conductive means of said one fragment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,057,532 MacDonald Oct. 13, 1936 2,473,664 Taylor June 21, 1949 2,868,905 Meyer Jan. 13, 1959 2,882,455 Ferguson Apr. 14, 1959 2,921,152 Simjian Jan. 12, 1960 

